Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-28

nt htlINN wa sss
thoughts INTO winch your image does not APP
pear, to brighten and enhance them. Tell me
now that hopes dcarcr-intinitcly deurcr--
than any | have ever before cherished are
TO have the crown of fruiton."
~ cHnnot-l cannot,' she sighed.
"What can you not: Can't You care for me
at least litlr"
81 do; care for yon ever SO much. am
not only grateful Tor all that you have been
to me and done for me, but / have feeling
that goes beyond more gratitude. But to
say that / return the love you profess for me
that even entcrainany fcclinc res milling
til cannot, and certainly not at this time"
"But you certainly ito not love anyone
ese.'
ooh, l beg Of you not TO question me-
"a know / have no right to ask you such u
question. ] have 10 right to pry into any
matter which you do not choose to reveal TO-
me of your own free will and accord. Bat "a,
all the mail Of the hosl itnl goes through mN
hands, | could not help noticing that in IA
the months that you have been here you h..
written to no man nor received letter from
one Upon this have built my hopes that
you were heart free"
81 cannot talk of this, nor of anything now.
l am so wrought up 10y many things that
have hap"ancd-by my letter from home; by
your unexpected declaration-tEat my poor
brain is i'll WhiIl, and cannot think clearly
and connectedly on any subject, Please do
not press me any more now"
The torrent of his passion was stayed by
this appeal to his forhearance. He ossaycd
to calm down his impetuous eagerness for a
decision Of his fate and said penitenty;
81 beg your pardon. | really forgot. l
have so long sought an opportunity to speak
to you upon this matter, and | have been 50
often bal.,cd at the last moment that when a
seeming chance came | was carried away
with it, and in my selfish eagcrness for my
own happiness | forgot your distress. For
give me--Go.'
Il have ching to forgive" she said frank
ly, much touched by his tender consideration.
"You never allow me an occasion for forgive
ness or to do anything in any way to Offset
the favors you continually heap upon me-
Pay them all thousand times over by
giving mo the least reason to hope
Il only wish | could only wish [ dared.
But | fear to say anything now. cannot
trust mys',i"
"But you Will at least say something alat
will give mo the basis of hope he per-
sisted
| Not now-not now" she said, giving him
her hand, which he seized and kissed fervcnt-
ly, and Withdrew from the room.
She boltci the door and gave herself up to
the most intense thought.
Assignment to duty with an expedition
took DR.. DcIslow away the next morning
without his being able to see her. When he
returned a week later he found this letter
lying on HI, desk:
My VERY DEAR FmESD--The declaration you
honored mo with maxim; has been the subject
OF many hours Of the most earnest couSldt ration
possible | am certain that it is due to YOU and
TO the conf s5ion that you have made Of your
feelings That should in turn confess that | am
deeply-what Snail ] say-iutcl, 7ted in you? No;
that Is too prilu and prIlish "a T. nm. There is in
you for me more than a mere attraction; feel
for you something deeper than even warm friend
ship. That you would make such Il husband as L
| should cherish and honor, of whom should he
| proud, ana Whose strong, kindly arms would be
! my secure support and protection until death
! claimed Us, have not tine ST -alcst doubt. But
when ask myself whether this il really lovc-the
| sacred, ail-pcrvadug passion which Il woman
should feel for the man to whom she gives herself
! body and soul, encounter the strongest doubts.
these doubts have no reference to YOU, only to
myself | feel That it would bc a deCradation-a
| deep profanatiOn- for me to give myself to you,
| without feeling in its entirety such Il love as
| have attempted to define / have gone away
| from you because want to consd, r this question
| and decide it with more calnln-ss and impartial
| ty than can where | meet you daily, and daily
receive som" Lin mess from your hands Thcs.
| and the magnetism of your presence are tcmpta-
tons which | fear might swcrve me from my
| ideal and possibly lead to a mistake which We
| both might ever Uitcrward have reason to regret.
l have, as you will he informed, accepted q
detail to one of the hospitals at Nashville ronot
write me, except to tell me OF a chang. in your
| postoiicc address. will not write YOU unless
have something Of special moment to ten YOU.
Believe mo, whatever may hctde. at least your
very sincere friend, RACHEL BoSp